Do I need expensive coaching classes to prepare for the dMAT exam?

No, self-study using official material is entirely sufficient for most applicants, and coaching packages built specifically around this exam are worth skipping. You do not need to spend heavily to prepare well for the dMAT.

Why coaching adds little value here

Since there is no pass/fail cut-off and no historical benchmark yet, the dMAT does not reward months of drilling the way a genuinely competitive entrance exam like CAT or GATE would. Your time is better spent calibrating against the official format than paying for a structured course.

How to treat third-party mock tests

Independent Indian coaching providers do sell dMAT mock tests and question banks. Treat these strictly as supplementary speed drills, and cross-check their question style against the official g.a.s.t. material before trusting it.

A mock test that deviates from the official format, such as grids larger than 5x5 or figures with more than one moving rule at once, is testing the wrong thing. An unofficial provider's difficulty level should never replace your calibration against the real exam.

My Advice

Save your money on expensive coaching packages for this particular exam. If you do use a third-party mock test, run it side by side against the official g.a.s.t. sample material first, and drop any provider whose format visibly deviates from the real thing.